Forge FC learn foe for first round of Voyageurs Cup play

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Published January 31, 2023 at 9:04 pm

(inTheHammer photo)

Forge FC, and retained talents such as David Choinière, will start the 2023 Canadian Championship with a matchup of league champions in Hamilton.

The draw for the single-elimination playdowns to decide the Voyageurs Cup, the nation’s club championship, was held on Tuesday night. Forge FC was matched against FC Laval, who earned their place by winning the Première ligue de soccer du Québec title last season.

All Canadian Premier League clubs and the three Major League Soccer clubs based in Canada take part in the 14-team tournament. Forge boast the most recently success by a non-MLS side in the event, having been the runner-up to Toronto FC in the 2020 event. (The match was actually played in June 4, 2022 due to COVID-19 health protections.)

The date for Forge-Laval will be announced at a later date. It will be the fourth of six matches, a TSS Rovers FC (League1 British Columbia) vs. Valour FC (CPL); Pacific FC vs. Cavalry FC (both CPL); and, York United FC vs. Vancouver FC (both CPL). The first round also includes HFX Wanderers FC vs. Atlético Ottawa (both CPL), and CF Montréal (MLS) vs. Vaughan SC (League1 Ontario).

Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps received a bye to the quarterfinals.

The Voyageurs Cup champion represents Canada in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, the regional club championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The Forge, who captured the CPL’s North Star Shield championship trophy in November, open the league season at home against Cavalry FC (of Calgary) at Tim Hortons Field on April 15.

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